Our transcendent Hope

Read Job 17.

Job's spirit was broken.  It is one thing to experience great loss and be financially, emotionally, or even physically broken.  But a broken spirit is a destroying devastation of person-hood.

He just wanted to get it over with and die.  And, he was ready.  There was nothing left for which to live.  People only mocked him (v.2).  They seemed to hang around merely to divide up what would be left of his property (v.5).  He lost so much physically that he was only a shadow of his former self (v.7).  All his future plans and dreams were gone (v.11).  If his so-called comforters possessed anymore wisdom, they could bring it on.

Yet, there remained a glimpse of his faith in God.  He had done nothing wrong and, therefore, his faith should make him stronger. (vv.8-9)

Job's question, "Where then is my hope?" (v.15), has much more to do with his hope of recovering from all the losses, including his health.  The grave appeared to be the only place of peace, rest, and escape from the suffering.

In Psalm 42, the songwriter expressed one of the most graphic descriptions of brokenness in the entire Bible.

"As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.....My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me continually, 'Where is your God?'...Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."

Eventually, everyone looses everything, leaving it all behind.  The LORD alone is the only source of unchanging hope that transcends this life.

You've got a Friend!

Read Job 16.

Job was worn out (v.7).  He believed the hand of God came against him because the LORD "hated me" (v.9).  And, he felt everyone was against him.

As he told it, everything was fine until God "broke me apart" and "set me up as his target" (v.12).

In verse 18, Job looked around the earth and asked for vindication.  He did not want his cries to go without being resolved.  Next, he looked to heaven.  Since there were no friends to plead his case on earth, he longed for a friend in heaven who would advocate for him with God.

Several insights for today.

1. God is not mad at us.

We are His creation; we belong to Him.  "For God so loved the world..." (John 3:16)

2. God wants a relationship with us.

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

3. We do have a Friend in heaven.

"...we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ..." (1 John 2:1)

"...he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)

You've got a Friend.  Just call out His name and you know wherever you are, He'll come.

Can a person be pure before God?

Read Job 15.

This begins the second of three rounds of speeches as these men interact.  Last time, Eliphaz began by complimenting Job before strongly advising him.  In this exchange he skipped the courtesies and accused Job of being a harden sinner, disrespectful to his elders, and defiant toward God.

Then, Eliphaz falsely detailed how the sufferings of Job were exactly what happens to all those who defy God.  The wicked will come to ruin and poverty.

Among the many questions he did ask was this one: "What is man, that he can be pure?" (v.14)  God is holy and cannot tolerate sin.  The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  Holiness and sin are eternally incompatible.

So, how can an unholy human being ever have a relationship with a holy God?  The answer is in the next verse in the book of Romans: "and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:24)

Such right standing with God cannot be earned.  It is a free gift.  It is not the result of what we can do, but solely upon what Christ has already done for us.  Our sin was paid in full on the cross. Our forgiveness and holiness before God is there for the asking.

Forgiven, we are pure before the LORD

The believer's hope and Home

Read Job 14.

Life is short.  Our days here on earth are numbered and determined by a sovereign and loving God.

But in his suffering, Job wonders when will it all end?  And, where is this going?

Further, Job observed that a tree may be cut down, yet with a little water, the stump can sprout life again.  But what about human life?  "If a man dies, shall he live again?" (v.14)

Life is not about reaching our goals but fulfilling God's purposes.  We are "the work of your hands" (v.15).  Job concluded that over time life simply wears down a person's body and hope until they die.

Does this sound futile?  Yes...if all of one's hope is wrapped up with things here on earth.  The Apostle Paul wrote, "If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." (1 Corinthians 15:19)

The hope and home of the believer is not in this life, but in the one that is to come.  Indeed, Paul was encouraged and referred to it as going home!  "Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.  So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him." (2 Corinthians 5:8-9)

Godly confidence comes from a clear Conscience

Read Job 13.

By this point, Job was already weary of debating with these so-called friends.  They proved to be of no help.  Indeed, Job compared them to "worthless physicians".  Or, as Dr. Roy Zuck wrote, they were "worthless medical doctors with no prescription to alleviate his pain" (Bible Knowledge Commentary).  He wanted them to be quiet and just listen to him.

Again, he expressed his greater desire to argue his case directly with God.  Job understood fully the potential consequences of this request.  It had already been stated that no human being is a match for an all-powerful, sovereign God.  It could cost him his life (verse 15).

His confidence remained in the fact that he had done nothing wrong to justify this suffering.  In essence, Job continued to ask what every hurting person asks, "Why? What did I do wrong?  What did I do to deserve this?"  He even boldly asked that his sins be enumerated.

In verse 26, Job mentioned the sins of his youth and questioning the value of bringing that up against him.  God, of course, will not do that.

We who know Jesus and have experienced His forgiveness never have to worry about God dredging up the sins of our past.  Such plaguing thoughts do not come from Him.  Often the Evil One will remind us those things to impose false guilt and seek to destroy our confidence.  Our memories of the past should quickly shift to the grace extended to us by faith in Jesus.  To be forgiven by God means our record is clean with Him.

"'Come now, let us reason together,' says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; thought they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.'" (Isaiah 1:18)

Why doesn’t everyone worship God?

Read Job 12.

To Zophar's accusations, Job responded with three chapters of defense.  In the banter regarding wisdom and endeavoring to search out the meaning of this real life situation, Job first expounded on the true source of wisdom, all understanding, and ultimate control.

God's power and wisdom are immediately knowable to everyone.

1. All of humanity should know the LORD.

Job did not possess a Bible.  He had no theological training.  So, how could he have such understanding about God?

"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them."

(Romans 1:19)

How has God shown Himself to everyone?

2. All of nature could tell us.  vv.7-10

Job offered that if the beasts, birds, plants and fish could talk they would declare God's wisdom and power.

"For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.  So they are without excuse."

(Romans 1:20)

Then, why is it that not everyone worships Him?

3. All of life experience should tell us.  vv.11-12

Everyday God is at work shaping our lives for His purposes.  Believers trust Him and look for His faithfulness.  Others reject God's plan and go their own way to their detriment.

"For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Claiming to be wise, they became fools..."

(Romans 1:21-22)

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

(Proverbs 1:7)

The difference between mercy and Grace

Read Job 11.

Next, Zophar took a turn to judge and correct Job.  He accused job of spouting a lot of meaningless talk, even referring to him as stupid (v.12).  Further, he stated that it was too bad that God did not speak up so they could hear the real story.  It was the same erroneous thinking that Job's experiences were the result of some personal sin.

Though his applications to Job were not accurate, Zophar's statements about God are full of truth.

1. God is merciful.

"Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt." v.6

Aren't we all blessed by the fact that God does not render to us what we so rightfully deserve?  This is mercy.

2. God's knowledge is limitless and immeasurable. vv.7-12

Indeed, He does know every detail about our lives-what we have thought, said, and done.

3. God forgiveness is waiting for those who will respond to His grace.

If a person will turn from their sin and turn to Jesus for forgiveness, they will experience a fresh start in life. vv.13-20  Forgiven, cleansed of our sin, being right with God are things we do not deserve.  This is grace.